By the law of averages Quinton de Kock is due a good World Cup. It is an unreliable law, of course, especially in cricket, but if form and good fortune are kind to him then his third and final 50-over World Cup will be his best.
By the time of the 2015 tournament in Australia a 22-year-old de Kock was already an established superstar of the game with a remarkable six centuries in just 35 innings, including a record-equalling three in succession against India, which caught the rest of the cricketing world’s attention.
When the brilliant opener and gloveman tore ligaments in his ankle just two months before the start of the tournament the prognosis was bleak with an expected recovery time of 10-12 weeks predicted. But he was far too important to the Proteas plans to consider leaving him at home and the healing process was rushed and he returned to action well below full fitness.
He scored just 57 runs in his first seven innings in the tournament before finally finding form in the quarterfinal against Sri Lanka with an unbeaten 78 before making 14 in the heart-breaking semifinal loss to New Zealand.
Four years later de Kock was among a group of South Africa’s best players, including captain Faf du Plessis and Kagiso Rabada, whose promised early return from the IPL never materialised and who consequently arrived at the tournament in England physically exhausted and mentally stale.
Nonetheless de Kock showed glimpses of his best form with 68 in the opening game against England and two other half centuries in a total of 305 runs at an average of 38.1. But the campaign lacked energy and the Proteas bid for a semifinal place fizzled out with three games of the group stage remaining although they finished with a consolation victory against Australia in which de Kock scored a bright 52.
This time, eight years after his first World Cup and almost 11 years after his debut as a 19-year-old, de Kock has another chance to shine on the format’s greatest stage.
At the age of just 30 there has been no diminishing of his skills with either bat or gloves. He remains just as capable of sharp catches and huge, match-winning innings as he was at the peak of his form. Now, with clarity about his future career in which he hopes to continue playing for his country in the T20 format – at least until next year’s 20-over World Cup – he may be better placed than ever to focus on making his last hurrah a campaign to remember.
Unlike many players who have enjoyed extended international careers, de Kock was never a cricket ‘nut’. There are no stories of a young de Kock sleeping with a beloved bat or shadow-batting in front of a mirror in his hotel room. He would much rather go fishing or walk his dogs. He is happy proof that you don’t always have to be in love with the game to be brilliant at it.
Fitness permitting De Kock has a minimum of nine games and a maximum of 11 in India to add to his 145 innings in ODI cricket and the 6176 runs he has scored at an average of 44.75 and a strike rate of almost 96. Should he enjoy a haul of 500+ runs that he is undoubtedly capable of, he will go a long way towards helping South Africa reach the last four. But nobody wants to tempt fate.
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